Psychiatr Prax 2011; 38 - S10_3_EC
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1277785

Motivational interviewing to patients with comorbid substance use admitted to an acute psychiatric department

G Bagøien 1, J Bjørngaard 2, C Østensen 1, P Romundstad 2, G Morken 1
  • 1Østmarka Department of Psychiatry, St. Olav University Hospital and Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
  • 2Department of Public Health and General Practice, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway

Background/Objectives: Alcohol or other drug-related problems are common among patients admitted to acute psychiatric departments. The patients with comorbid substance use have a short length of stay in hospital and the time available for treatment interventions before discharge is short. Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a client-centred and directive style of counselling that elicits behavioural change by helping people to explore and resolve their ambivalence. Brief interventions with MI have shown substantial reduction in alcohol and drug use in other patient populations.

The objective of the study was in a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the long-term effects of MI on self-reported drug-use.

Methods: All consecutive admissions to the acute psychiatric department at St. Olav University Hospital between October 2004 and December 2005 were evaluated. The patients with substance use were randomly assigned to either 2×45 minutes of MI and treatment as usual (TAU), or TAU only. The patients were stratified to three groups before randomization (non-psychosis and substance use, psychosis and substance use, in-appropriate use of benzodiazepines and no other substance use). A total of 135 patients were included. At admission, the patients answered a questionnaire about alcohol and other substance use during the last week and the previous 3 months in addition to questions about work, education and social functioning. After inclusion, the patients were followed at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months with identical questionnaires. The patient's use of health services 1, 2 years after admission were also registered, and 5 years are under registration.

Results: The study data are currently being analyzed and results will be presented at the conference.

Discussion/Conclusions: Short interventions is a clear advantage for patients with co-morbid psychiatric and drug related diagnoses where time for treatment is a limiting factor. It is crucially important to test the effects of such interventions.

Funding: Fully supported materially and financially by St. Olav University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway.

Keywords: Process evaluation, RCT, motivational interviewing.